The girl group BLACKPINK (Jisoo, Rosé, Jennie, and Lisa) is approaching the milestone of the 'seven-year curse.' On August 8, 2016, BLACKPINK emerged in the K-pop scene like a comet, and now they are about to celebrate their seventh debut anniversary on the same date. Despite the passage of time, the achievements BLACKPINK has made over the course of these seven years are truly remarkable.
Debuting as a new girl group under YG Entertainment, following in the footsteps of the second-generation powerhouse hip-hop girl group 2NE1, BLACKPINK quickly garnered attention. Although the initial excitement of their debut has faded into distant memory, the accomplishments BLACKPINK have achieved over the past seven years have been astonishing.
Under the direction of YG Entertainment's CEO Yang Hyun-suk, BLACKPINK confidently introduced themselves at their debut showcase on August 8, 2016. From their debut album 'SQUARE ONE,' which included hit tracks "Whistle" and "Boombayah," to subsequent releases like "Playing with Fire" and "Stay," BLACKPINK received praise from the industry for their high-quality songs and even won rookie awards at the end of the year.
Starting in 2018, BLACKPINK rose to become one of the top hit-makers of their generation, releasing chart-toppers like "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du," "Forever Young," "Kill This Love," "How You Like That, " and "Lovesick Girls." They solidified their status as a global artist with an impressive discography.
This year, BLACKPINK achieved a significant career milestone. With their full-length album 'THE ALBUM,' they became the first K-pop girl group to top the Billboard 200 chart. They also achieved the top spot on the UK Official Albums Chart, solidifying their status not only as celebrities but also as successful global music artists. BLACKPINK's achievement of topping the Billboard 200 chart was the first time a girl group achieved this feat since Destiny's Child in 2008.
The question of BLACKPINK's and YG Entertainment's contract renewal still remains uncertain. Despite ongoing speculation, the group is currently conducting a world tour with around 1.5 million attendees. Although their contract's expiration date is approaching, and the official renewal has not been confirmed, both sides' intentions could lead to a scenario where they continue to work together, even if the contractual details are yet to be determined.
As the recent atmosphere suggests a harmonious and positive relationship between BLACKPINK and YG, fans (known as BLINKs) are hoping for a happy ending to this chapter.
Written by Yoon Sang GeunTranslated by Lee So Yun